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Wolves aim to snap long losing streak vs. Rockets

Apr 13, 2011 - 3:04 PM (Sports Network) - The Minnesota Timberwolves hope to stop a nagging 14-game losing streak when they close out the 2010-11 season tonight versus the Houston Rockets at the Target Center.

The Timberwolves haven't reached the playoffs since the 2003-04 campaign and their losing ways continued with Monday's 135-127 overtime setback in Phoenix. Channing Frye hit nine three-pointers for a career-high 33 points to burn Minnesota, which got 26 points from Michael Beasley and 24 out of Anthony Randolph.

Luke Ridnour finished with 21 points, nine assists and nine rebounds, while Anthony Tolliver chipped in 22 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. The Wolves are mired in their longest losing streak since matching a franchise-record 16- game slide from Feb. 24-March 28, 2010.

"Same old, same old. It's what we've been doing all season," Tolliver said. "It's just really tough. We had some really good stretches this game, did some really good things, but we just couldn't finish it."

Minnesota is 12-28 in the Twin Cities and has dropped five in a row on the road. Wolves double-double machine Kevin Love has missed five straight games and is expected to miss tonight's game with a strained left groin. Center Darko Milicic (ankle) is also expected to miss Wednesday's bout with Houston.

The Rockets stumbled down the stretch to miss out on the playoffs for a second straight season and will close out the season tonight. They have dropped four of seven games and are coming off Monday's 98-91 overtime loss versus the rival Dallas Mavericks in Space City.

Kevin Martin paced the Rockets with a game-high 28 points, while Goran Dragic scored 15 points to go with 10 rebounds and seven assists. Chuck Hayes had 10 points and 12 boards for Houston, which was outscored by a 12-5 margin in the extra session.

"We really battled," Rockets head coach Rick Adelman said. "We did everything we could in the regulation and (the Mavericks) kind of took over in overtime, made plays but we give our guys credit. They went after it and just came up short."

Rockets guard Kyle Lowry (foot) is questionable for Wednesday and center Luis Scola (knee) is listed as doubtful.

Houston is 17-23 away from the Toyota Center this season.

Minnesota put the brakes on a 13-game losing streak to Houston with a 112-108 triumph on Feb. 8 in Space City. Love recorded 20 points and 14 rebounds in that one for the Wolves, who have still lost 15 of the past 19 meetings between the clubs.

The Rockets have won six straight, eight of 10 and 10 of their last 13 trips to the Twin Cities.